Abstract
Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common external eye diseases and the prevalence has been increasing. The mainstay of treatment is topical eye drops. However, low bioavailability, low ocular drug penetration, transient resident time on the ocular surface due to tear turnover, frequent topical applications and dependence on patient compliance, are the main drawbacks associated with topical administration. Nanotechnology-based medicine has emerged to circumvent these limitations, by encapsulating the drugs and preventing them from degradation and therefore providing sustained and controlled release. Using a nanotechnology-based approach to load the drug is particularly useful for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs such as immunomodulatory agents, which are commonly used in allergic conjunctival diseases. In this review, different nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, including nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanomicelles, nanosuspension, polymeric and lipid nanoparticles, and their potential ophthalmic applications, as well as advantages and disadvantages, are discussed. We also summarize the results of present studies on the loading of immunomodulators or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to nano-scaled drug delivery systems. For future potential clinical use, research should focus on the optimization of drug delivery designs that provide adequate and effective doses with safe and satisfactory pharmacokinetic and pharmaco-toxic profiles.
Highlights
Introduction of NanotechnologyThe underlying remarkable value of the nanotechnology-based approach is attributed by its unique characteristic of nanoscale
Artificial tears lubricants, which usually consist of saline solutions combined with a viscosity agent, such as methylcellulose or polyvinyl alcohol, can be supportive treatment, helping to dilute and remove allergens and inflammatory mediators from the ocular surface
Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) blocks the cyclooxygenase pathway and inhibits the production of prostaglandins, which plays a role in IgE-mediated allergic reaction [8]
Summary
The conjunctiva is immunologically active as it is constantly exposed to the environment and surrounding allergens. The economic impact of ocular allergic diseases is estimated to be over $2 billion US dollars annually in prescriptions generated by primary. Pharmaceuticals 2020, 13, 351 allergic diseases is estimated to be over $2 billion US dollars annually in prescriptions generated by primary care physicians and eye care specialists, and this does not include over-the-counter care physicians andto eye specialists, andprescriptions this does not [3]. The clinical symptoms and signs vary among these four conditions, but typical presentations, including presentations, including bilateral itch, photophobia, dryness, eyelid swelling, conjunctival bilateral itch, photophobia, dryness, eyelid swelling, conjunctival hyperemia, mucous or watery hyperemia, mucous or watery discharge, conjunctival (chemosis), tarsal conjunctival discharge, conjunctival swelling (chemosis), and tarsal swelling conjunctival papillary and reaction, occur in all papillary reaction, occur in all forms Limbal VKC: Scattered opalescent mounds at limbus, vascular injection, Horner-Trantas dots
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